The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule Set foorth by Sir William Leighton |
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The penitent prayeth for the Testimonie of a good Conscience.
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 | The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule |  |
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The penitent prayeth for the Testimonie of a good Conscience.
1
Looke down (O Lord) on me poore man,In thee I liue, I moue, and am,
O cleare my soule and conscience,
That I in thee my peace, may finde
Rest to my heart, ioy to my minde,
freed my sinne and mine offence.
2
Let me not stretch my conscience,But trust vnto thy prouidence,
nor by deceipt or guile get gaine:
Ill gotten goods let me restore,
And of mine owne giue to the poore,
as thou my portion shalt maintaine.
3
From conscience that shall erre a misse,Out of the way of heauenly blisse,
and hath not warrant from thy word:
From all the pathes Hereticall,
From all the waies Scismaticall,
Restraine, refraine my feete O Lord.
4
From conscience strict, and full of nicenesse,And ouer curious much precizenesse,
represse mine heart, my soule and minde:
And with traditions new inuented,
That are not with thy word indented,
let not my actions be inclinde.
176
5
A wounded conscience who can beare,Tis full of horror dread and feare:
it is an endles perturbation.
A witnes torture Iudge and Gaile,
It makes our faith and hope to faile:
and lead'th to desperation.
6
A conscience wicked and peruerse,That none but great sinnes can it pearse:
and mightie mountaines mole-hills makes,
It hindreth our Saluation,
It furthereth Obduration:
and sence of sinne it from vs takes.
7
Of each good guift Lord thou art giuer,From all ill conscience me deliuer,
and euer, and euermore preserue me:
Then I in quietnes and rest,
As one of thine whom thou hast blest,
for euer, euermore will serue thee.
FINIS
| The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule | |